It was first reported that Facebook was not cooperating with the investigation but Facebook then agreed to help with the investigation.

After all, the threat was reported less than 48 hours prior to the day the suspect stated it would be carried out.

“I grew up in the Splendora area, and I’ve chose to raise my family here as well,” Precinct 4 Constable Rowdy Hayden said. “If something affects the residents of East Montgomery County, I want to know about it and be part of the solution. Fortunately, I have dedicated investigators who feel just as strongly and I’m proud of how they handled it.”

Hayden said members of his agency received numerous calls from concerned citizens and not only Splendora residents.

“A lady from Beaumont contacted dispatch to reach a Precinct 4 deputy because her son was scheduled to play in a sporting event and she wanted to know if he would be safe because she’d heard about the threat,” Hayden said. “Another lady called and said she heard about the threat and went to stay with family in Cleveland but she had a birthday party to attend in Splendora Sunday and she wanted to know if it was safe to return.”

The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office became involved with First Assistant District Attorney Phil Grant publicly stating Facebook officials were not cooperating. It is unknown what turned the tide, but at some point on Saturday, Facebook officials contacted Montgomery County agreeing to provide the requested assistance.

Less than 24 hours later, members of the Precinct 4 Constable’s Office had identified the suspect, traveled to the Harris County home she was visiting and placed her under arrest. They also seized electronic devices from the location.

The suspect is a 13-year-old female, whose name is withheld because she is a juvenile.

She is a Splendora resident, and Splendora Independent School District student, who is about the same age as the cancer patient she was harassing before she threatened the whole town. With school out for summer break, the suspect was reportedly staying with family in Harris County at the time of the incident.

The teen is charged with third-degree felony Terroristic Threat. Because she is a juvenile, the prosecution will be handled by the Office of Montgomery County Attorney J.D. Lambright.

As of Monday morning, investigators were interviewing the suspect attempting to find answers as to why she made the statements. For now, no one has answers. The suspect’s family is cooperating with law enforcement.

Hayden said the case was disturbing for more reasons than just the panic that spread through the Splendora community.

“We realize a 13-year-old child will use poor judgment, and make mistakes, but we have to take threats like these seriously,” he said. “In light of so many incidents in recent years where suspects announced their intentions through social media, such as the mass shooting at the University of California in May, these threats cannot be ignored.

“We hope this young lady will learn from her mistake and do something positive with her life. We also hope this is a wakeup call for parents. We cannot stress enough the importance of knowing what your children are doing online and talking to them about the serious consequences they‘ll face if they engage in this type of behavior.”

“This is not a joke, and this young lady found out the hard way,” he said. “Sunday morning she woke up surrounded by family in a comfortable home. This morning, she’s in juvenile detention and I’ll guarantee you, she now realizes the seriousness of what she’s done. Please, talk to your kids. If you don’t, we may have to.”